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Doug Rader
Douglas Lee Rader (born July 30, 1944), nicknamed "the Red Rooster", is an American former manager, coach, and third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) who was known primarily for his defensive ability, winning five straight Gold Glove Awards from 1970 to 1974.
Rader's career lasted from 1967 to 1977, playing for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and Toronto Blue Jays, then later managed the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels between 1983 and 1991.
Also nicknamed "Rojo", Rader earned his nickname "the Red Rooster" from the thick head of red hair which always protruded from under his cap.
Rader was born on July 30, 1944, in Chicago. He attended Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois, and Illinois Wesleyan University. He played shortstop for Illinois Wesleyan’s baseball team in 1963-64. He also played shortstop in the summers of 1963-64 in the Central Illinois Collegiate League for the Bloomington Bobcats.
Rader was signed out of Bloomington by the Houston Astros as an amateur undrafted free agent in 1965. The Astros had scouted him in 1964 and paid him a $25,000 signing bonus to sign with them.
In 1965, he was assigned to the Single-A Durham Bulls, where his batting average was only .209. In 1966, he played for the Double-A Amarillo Sonics, raising his batting average to .290, with 16 home runs, 85 runs scored, 74 runs batted in (RBI) and an .819 OPS (on-base plus slugging). He began the 1967 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers, playing 75 games with a .293 average before being called up to the Astros that year. He played third base for all three teams.
He made his Major League Baseball debut with the club on July 31, 1967. In his first game against the New York Mets, Rader earned his first career hit, a single against Canadian-born reliever Ron Taylor, as his Astros won the game 3-2. On August 19, Rader hit his first career home run against Dick Hughes of the St. Louis Cardinals. He played a majority of his games at first base, and finished the season with a .333 batting average with four home runs and 26 runs batted in (RBI) in 47 games.
During the 1968 season, the Astros moved Rader over to play third base, and in 98 games, Rader hit .267 with six home runs and 43 RBIs in establishing himself as their everyday third baseman during the second half of the season.
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Doug Rader
Douglas Lee Rader (born July 30, 1944), nicknamed "the Red Rooster", is an American former manager, coach, and third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) who was known primarily for his defensive ability, winning five straight Gold Glove Awards from 1970 to 1974.
Rader's career lasted from 1967 to 1977, playing for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and Toronto Blue Jays, then later managed the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels between 1983 and 1991.
Also nicknamed "Rojo", Rader earned his nickname "the Red Rooster" from the thick head of red hair which always protruded from under his cap.
Rader was born on July 30, 1944, in Chicago. He attended Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois, and Illinois Wesleyan University. He played shortstop for Illinois Wesleyan’s baseball team in 1963-64. He also played shortstop in the summers of 1963-64 in the Central Illinois Collegiate League for the Bloomington Bobcats.
Rader was signed out of Bloomington by the Houston Astros as an amateur undrafted free agent in 1965. The Astros had scouted him in 1964 and paid him a $25,000 signing bonus to sign with them.
In 1965, he was assigned to the Single-A Durham Bulls, where his batting average was only .209. In 1966, he played for the Double-A Amarillo Sonics, raising his batting average to .290, with 16 home runs, 85 runs scored, 74 runs batted in (RBI) and an .819 OPS (on-base plus slugging). He began the 1967 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers, playing 75 games with a .293 average before being called up to the Astros that year. He played third base for all three teams.
He made his Major League Baseball debut with the club on July 31, 1967. In his first game against the New York Mets, Rader earned his first career hit, a single against Canadian-born reliever Ron Taylor, as his Astros won the game 3-2. On August 19, Rader hit his first career home run against Dick Hughes of the St. Louis Cardinals. He played a majority of his games at first base, and finished the season with a .333 batting average with four home runs and 26 runs batted in (RBI) in 47 games.
During the 1968 season, the Astros moved Rader over to play third base, and in 98 games, Rader hit .267 with six home runs and 43 RBIs in establishing himself as their everyday third baseman during the second half of the season.